Doncaster Rovers: Darren Ferguson reassured after Ross Etheridge meeting

Etheridge made a costly fumble of a shot in Rovers’ 2-2 draw with Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday – his first league start since the second game of the campaign.

But Ferguson says he got the reaction he was looking for when he sat down with the keeper to reflect on the game.

“I had a good chat with him on Monday morning,” Ferguson told The Star.

“That meeting was an important one for him in terms of how he approached it and how his body language was.

“And it was very good.

“He trained very well Monday morning. He trained fine on Tuesday.

“I do feel he had a bad time on Saturday and the reaction of the fans was not nice.

“His reaction on Monday says to me that he is prepared to fight and dig in and try to work as hard as he can. That’s good enough for me.

“Everyone makes mistakes and it’s my job as manager to help them through that.

“Of course, he’s got to help himself.”

The Rovers boss initially criticised Etheridge for failing to claim a cross in the build-up to Wycombe’s first goal at the weekend.

But, on reflection, he feels a foul should have been given on the keeper.

Ferguson faces a goalkeeping selection poser for Saturday’s FA Cup first round tie at Oldham Athletic with Marko Marosi passed fit following a knee injury.

And deciding the best way to manage Etheridge’s response to his error against Wycombe will influence his decision for the weekend and next Tuesday’s Checkatrade Trophy clash with Port Vale.

He said: “Marko has trained as well so he will be fit on Saturday.

“I’ve got a decision to make on Saturday.

“Ross will certainly play in one of the two cup games.

“Whether he will play in both, I might, to give him a run of games.

“Maybe the best thing will be to chuck him in.

“Maybe he has a clean sheet and the Wycombe game is forgotten about.”